Powders to Thin Films: Advances in Conjugated Microporous Polymer Chemical Sensors

Abstract

Chemical sensing of harmful species released either from natural or anthropogenic activities is critical to ensuring human safety and health. Over the last decade, conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) have been proven to be potential sensor materials with the possibility of realizing sensing devices for practical applications. CMPs found to be unique among other porous materials such as metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) due to their high chemical/thermal stability, high surface area, microporosity, efficient host‐guest interactions with the analyte, efficient exciton migration along the π‐conjugated chains and tailorable structure to target specific analytes. Several CMP‐based optical, electrochemical, colorimetric, and ratiometric sensors with excellent selectivity and sensing performance were reported. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed the advances in CMP chemical sensors with clear segregation of CMP powders as well as thin films in the detection of various analytes such as nitroaromatic explosives, chemical warfare agents, anions, metal ions, biomolecules, iodine, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with simultaneous delineation of design strategy principles guiding the selectivity and sensitivity of CMP. Preceding this, various photophysical mechanisms including hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT) excited state responsible for chemical sensing are also discussed in detail for convenience. Finally, future challenges to be addressed in the field of CMP chemical sensors are discussed.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved